WEST PARIS — The fun was fast and furious at the Downhill Derby on Saturday in West Paris.
Brody Morgan took first place, Willow Cohen took second and Ryder Dougherty came in third.
There were 11 participants in all, but Lisa McCann of the Downhill Derby committee hopes that next time there will be more.
“We had to turn away about 10 kids because we didn’t have enough derby cars,” said Steve McCann, head of the Downhill Derby Committee.
Five derby cars were donated by local individuals and businesses for those who didn’t bring a car, and they were given on a first-come, first-serve basis. The rest of the participants brought their own cars.
Guidelines for the derby cars include a fully functioning brake system, a working steering wheel that turns the car no more than half an inch left or right, full floorboards, a cockpit that completely surrounds the driver, and the driver and car combined must weigh less than 200 pounds.
Each racer, all between the ages of 7 and 11, had their own reasons for racing.
“I’ve always wanted to be racing like my papa,” said Dougherty.
Steven McCann was also racing to be like his role model — his dad, Steve. Steven lost his second race to Riley Hall by .03 seconds.
“That’s about as close as you can get,” said Steven.
Young’s Greenhouse donated a potted plant to be raffled off, which was won by Megan Hall.
Lisa McCann said there will be two more derby events this summer, on Aug. 12 and Sept. 9.
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Ryder Dougherty took the lead as Nick Basso went off the road at the Downhill Derby in West Paris on Saturday.
Brody Morgan, left, and Max G., enter the homestretch before the finish line at the Downhill Derby on Saturday in West Paris.
Willow Cohen pulls ahead of Asher Groetzinger in the Downhill Derby on Saturday in West Paris.
It was a close race between Riley Hall, left, and Steven McCann on Saturday at the Downhill Derby in West Paris.
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